Corrective footwear



Patented Sept. 1, 1 953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CORRECTIVE FOOTWEAR Hyman L. Whitman, East Bridgewater, Mass., assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 31, 1951, Serial No. %8,690

17 Claims. (Cl. 36-76) This invention relates to footwear and pertain's more particularly to corrective footwear having a heel and shank member adapted to support the longitudinal and metatarsal arches of the foot.

It is an object of this invention to provide footwear which is adapted to support the longitudinal and metatarsal arches of the foot tending to prevent pronation of the longitudinal arch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flexibie resilient heel and shank member for footwear which tends to correctly distribute the body weight of the wearer to give the proper triangular pressure distribution to the plantar surface of the foot.

It is also an object of this invention to` provide a sole member for footwear which furnishes support for the articulation of the navcular, talus and os caicis, so as to rotate the foot up-wardly and outwardly to maintain the foot in a normal alignment.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a heel and shank member for footwear which affords a cushion for the longitudinal arch of the foot.

A further object of this invention is to provide a exible resilient heel and shank member which may be conveniently and inexpensively fabricated.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the drawings and description which follow.

One of the primary causes of foot ailments is the distortion of the longitudinal :and metatarsal arches of the foot resulting from pronation of the longitudinal arch which occurs when the tripod construction formed by the articulation of the navicular, talus and Os calcis has rotated inwardly and downwardly from its normal position. The distorted condition of the longitudinal arch resulting from it pronation causes severe pain and discomfort resulting mainly from the unnatural distribution of body weight over the plantar surface of the foot. Normally the body weight is distributed mainly over three areas of the plantar surface, the heel area, the area beneath the head of the first metatarsal and the area beneath the head of the fifth metatarsal, however, when the longitudinal arch is in a pronated condition, the body weight is mainly supported by the areas beneath the calcaneus and the head of the first metatarsal causing excessive pressures to be exerted on these areas of the plantar surface.

This invention provides means for attaining the objectives heretofore mentioned by providing a fiexible resilient support extending under the heel and arches of the foot and which is designed to properly distribute body Weight over the plantar surface of the foot and to help correct pronation of the longitudinal arch of the foot by outwardly and upwardly rotating the tripod construetion formed by the articulation of the navicular, talus and os calcis.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a shoe embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan View of the sole member of the shoe of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of a preferred form of support embodying this invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on the line 'I-1 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the shoe shown in Fig. 1 comprises an upper lfl of conventional construction and a unitary sole member ll to which upper I 0 is securel along its lower marginal zone.

It is des-irable that sole member ll be of a unitary Construction comprising preferably' a flexible resilient rubber-like material, although sole member ll may be fabricated from such materials as cork, various kinds of leather, artificial leathery materials, and impregnated fabric and fibrous materials and the like, which may be shaped into the desired configuration in any conventional manner, such as, in the case of a. rubbery composition, by forming it into the desired configuration in a mold. The upper face of sole member I I is preferably an uninterrupted surface while its bottom face comprises a, corrective member l2 including a heel element I 3 and a series of cleats or ribs !4, I4 disposed diagonally across the face of sole member ill forming acute angles with the longitudinal axis of the sole and extending from an area beneath the first metatarsal |5 of the foot rearwardly to an area beneath the calcaneus IS, as shown in Fig. 2.

Cleats l4, !4 of supporting member 12 preferably extend substantially entirely across the face of sole member Il in the rear region below the articulation of the navicular, talus and os calcis and successively diminish in length, receding to the inner lateral portion of the sole in a region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head of the first metatarsal !5, as shown in Fig. 2. The depth of cleats 14,!4, i. e., the distance between the upper face of sole member il and the lowermost point on the aleat, gradually diminishes in magnitude, the rearmost cleat having the greatest depth which is preierably a depth of from to 1 inch and preferably equal to the depth of heel element 13; and the foremost cleat having the least depth, preferably a depth of from to /2 inch, as shown in Fig. 1. Preierably the depth of each aleat hi i i gradually decreases in magnitude as the aleat extends across the face of sole member il from the inner lateral portion of the` sole toward the outer lateral portion of the sole which provides cleats having their bottom faces gradually slaping toward the upper face of sole member H as the cleats extend across the bottom face of the sole and towards the outer lateral portions of the sole, the slope of the bottom faces of cleats l l, M preferably successively increasing in magnitude from the rearmost to the foremost aleat. The slope of the bottom face of the rearmost cleat is preferably from 1 to degrees and the slope of the bottom face of the foremost aleat is preierably from 3 to deg-rees, as shown in Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive. The width of the base !8, !8 of cleats ill, M preferably gradually decreases in magnitude from the rearmost aleat toward the foremost cleat, the foremost aleat, h-owever, preferably being formed in a generally triangular configuration providing a cushion for the first metatarsal i. The width of base l of the rearmost cleat is preferably from to 4 inch and the width of base !8 of the cleat penultimate to the iorenost aleat is preierably froni to inch. Grooves IQ, iii formed between and by cleats IQ, i& are preferably oi"- equal width, preferably a width of from to inch, the successive apexes 20, 20 of grooves 59, ii) however, preerably gradually approaching the upper face of sole member ll as they eirtend orwardly.

Another embodiment of this invention, as shown in Fig. 3, is a heel and shank supporting member 21' adapted to be Secured in a conventonal manner, such as by cementing, stitching or tacking, to the bottom face of a sole member af a boot or shoe. The Construction of supporting member l is the same as that of supporting member l of sole member ll described above. Preferably supporting member 21 is of a unitary Construction, although it may be comprised of separate units assembled to form the desired configuration.

As stated above, a common foot ailment is due to the pronation of the longitudinal arah occurring when the tripod Construction formed by the articulation of the navicular, talus and os calcis rotates inwardly and downwardly from its normal position in the foot causing the first and second metatarsals of the foot to assume an excessive distribution of the body weight irritating the nervous system in this portion of the plantar surface of the foot. When my invention is incorporated into footwear, such as boots, shoes, athletic shoes and the like, it tends to correct the condition of pronation of the longitudinal arah. When footwear incorporating my invention is worn the body weight of the wearer causes cleats IQ, M to contact the surface being walked upon providing a cushion and support for the heel and inner lateral portion of the foot extending to a point beneath the head of the first metatarsal tending to prevent pronation of the longitudinal arch.

Furthermore, my support insures the wearer that body weight will be properly distributed over the plantar areas of the foot. In walking in the correct normal manner the heel of the foot first contacts the ground, the body weight being distributed over the area directly beneath the calcaneus or heel bone. Subsequently, as the remainder of the foot contacts the ground, a portion of the body Weight is distributed in a forward lateral manner to the area oi the plantar surface beneath the head of the first metatarsal` and finally to the area of the plantar surface beneath the head of the fifth metatarsal resulting in the body weight being distributed in a rolling movement over the above-mentioned areas of the plantar surface.

I-Iowever, when pronation of the arch occurs the normal body weight distribution and normal rolling action of the foot in walking is destroyed, and excessive portion of the body Weight being distributed over the plantar region beneath the heads of the first and second metata rsals. A support within the purview of this invention tends to properly distribute the body weight by providing flexible resilient heel element [3 which cushions and supports the heel portion of the plantar surface of the foot and fiexible resilient cleats i i, l i which cause the wearer to walk in a normal manner by directing the distribution of the body weight toward the inner lateral portion of the foot and subsequently transversely across the metatarsal or anterior arch to an area beneath the head of the fifth metatarsal.

While my invention has been described in great detail with reference to its incorporation in a i shoe, I contemplate its use in all types oi' footwear, such as boots, shoes, iootwear designed for athletic use, overshoes, and the like.

It is clear that obvious modifications and variations of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A unitary sole member for footwear having a ball portion, a shank portion and a heel portion, said sole member comprising a supporting element disposed on its bottom face adapted to provide support for the longitudinal arch of the foot, said supporting element comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats disposed diagonally across the bottom face of said sole member and extending forwardly and outwardly from a region beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head of the first metatarsal of the foot.

2. A unitary sole member for footwear having a ball portion, a shank portion and a heel portion, said sole member comprsing a supporting element disposed on its bottom face adapted to provide support for the longitudinal arch of the foot, said supporting element comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats extending from the inner lateral perimeter of and diagonally forwardly across said sole member and from an area beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region beneath the first metatarsal of the foot, the rearmost aleat extending across substantially-the entire face of said sole member and the successive cleats gradually diminishing forwardly in length and width.

3. A unitary sole member for footwear having a ball portion, a shank portion and a heel portion, said sole'member comprising a supporting element disposed on its bottom face adapted to provide support for the longitudinal arch of the foot, said supporting element comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats extending from the inner lateral perimeter of and diagonally forwardly across said sole member and from a region beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head of the first metatarsal of the foot, said cleats successively diminishing in length and width from the rearmost to the foremost cleat, and the distance between the upper face of said sole member and the apexes of the grooves formed between and by said cleats gradually decreasing in magnitude from the rearmost groove to the foremost groove.

4. A unitary sole member for footwear having a ball portion, a shank portion and a heel portion, said sole member comprising a supporting element disposed on its bottom face adapted to provide support for the longitudinal arch of the foot, said supporting element comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats extendng from the inner lateral margin of said sole member and diagonally forwardly across said sole member and from a region beneath the caloaneus of the foot to a region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head of the first metatarsal of the foot, said cleats successively diminishing in length and width from the rearmost to the foremost cleat, the distance between said cleats being substantially equal, and the distance between the upper face of said sole member and the apexes of the grooves formed between and by said cleats gradually decreasing in magnitude from the rearmost to the foremost groove.

5. An arch support for an article of footwear, said arch support comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats extending from the inner lateral margin of said support diagonally forwardly across its bottom face and extending from a region beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head of the first metatarsal of the foot.

6. An arch support adapted for use in conjunction with a sole for an article of footwear, said arch support comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats extending from the inner lateral margin diagonally ierwardly across the bottom face of said support and extending from a region beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head of the first meta tarsal of the foot, said cleats successively gradually diminishing forwardly in length and width.

7. An arch support adapted for use in conjunction with a sole for an article of footwear, said arch support comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats extending from the inner lateral margin diagonally forwardly across the bottom face of said support and extending from a region beneath the calcaneue of the foot to a region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head of the first metatarsal of the foot, said cleats successively diminshihg in length and width from the rearmost to 'the oremost cleat, the distance between said cleats being substantially equal, and the distance between the upper face of said support and the apexes of the grooves formed between and by said cleats gradually decreasing in magnitude from the rearmost to the foremost groove.

8. A unitary sole member for footwear having a ball portion, a shank portion and. a heel portion, said sole member including a supporting element disposed on its bottom face adapted to provide support for the longitudinal arch of the foot, said supporting element comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats disposed diagonally across the bottom face of said sole member and extending forwardly and outwardly from a region beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head of the first metatarsal of the foot, the rearmost cleat extending across substantially the entire face of said sole member and the foremost cleat extending over the region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head of the first metatarsal.

9. An arch support adapted for use in conjunction with a sole for an article of footwear, said arch support comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats extending from the inner lateral margin of said support diagonally forwardly across the bottom face of said support and extending from a region beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region beneath the first metatarsal of the foot, the distance between said cleats being substantially equal.

10. An arch support adapted for use in conjunction with a sole for an article of footwear, said arch support comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats extending from the inner lateral margin of said support diagonally forwardly across the bottom face of said support and extending from a region beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region beneath the first metatarsal of the foot, the distance between the upper face of said support and the apexes of the grooves formed between and by said cleats gradually decreasing in magnitude from the rearmost to the foremost groove.

llfn arch support'adapted for use in conjunction with a sole for an article of footwear, said arch support comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly dependingcleats extending from the inner lateral margin diagonally forwardly across its bottom face and extending from a region beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head of the first metatarsal of the foot, the bottom face of each said cleat gradually converging toward the upper face of said support as each said cleat extends across the face of said support from said inner lateral margin toward the outer lateral margin of said support, the slope of the bottom face of each said cleat with respect to said upper face of said support successively increasing in magnitude from the rearmost to the foremost cleat.

12. A foot-supporting member for an article of footwear adapted to provide support for the longitudinal arch of the foot, said foot-supporting member comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats extending from the inner lateral margin of said foot-supporting member diagonally forwardly across its bottom face and extending from a region beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head of the first metatarsal of the foot.

13. A tread member for an article of footwear adapted to provide support for the longitudinal arch of the foot, said tread member comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats extending from the inner lateral margin of said trea'd member'diagonally forwardly across its bottom facerand extending from a region beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region immediately to the rear of' and beneath 'the head of the first metatarsal of the foot.

14. A tread member forian. article* of footwear adapted to provide support for the longitudinal arch of the foot, said tread member comprising a heel element and. a, plurality of' downwardly depending cleats extendingt from the inner lateral perimeter of and diagonally forwardly across said tread. member and from an. area. beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region beneath the first metatarsal of the foot', the rearmost cleat extending across essentially the entire face of said tread member and the successive cleats gradually diminishing forwardly in length and Width.

15. A tread member for an article of footwear adapted to provide support for the longitudinal arch of the foot; said tread member comprising a heel element and aplurality'of downwardly depending cleats extending. from the inner later al perimeter of and diagonally forwardly across said tread member and from' a region beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region immediately to the rear of and beneath the head'of the first metatarsal of the' foot, said cleats successively diminishing in length and Width from therearmost to the foremostcleat, and the distance betWeen the upper face ofsaid treadmember. and the apexes of the grooves formed between and by said cleats gradually decreasing in magnitude from the rearmost groove to. theforemost groove.

16. A unitary sole member for footwear having a ball portion, a. shank portion* and a heel portion, said sole member comprising a supporting element disposed on its bottom face adapted to provide support for the long-itudinal aroh of the foot, said supporting element comprising a heel element and a pluralityof downwardly depend ing cleats extending from theinner lateral perimeter of and diagonally forwardly across said sole member and froman area beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region beneath the first metatarsal of the foot,.the rearmost cleat ex.- tending across essentially the entire' face of'said 8 sole member and the successive' cleats gradually diminishing' forwardly in length and width, the depth of said cleats gradually decreasing in magnitude from the* rearmost cleat to the foremost cleat.

17. A unitary sole. member for footwear having a ball portion', a shank portion and a heel portion, said sole member comprising a supporting element disposed on its bottom face adapted to provide support' for the longitudinal arch of the foot, said supporting element comprising a heel element and a plurality of downwardly depending cleats extending from the inner lateral perimeter of and diagonally forwardly across said sole member and from an area beneath the calcaneus of the foot to a region beneath the first metatarsal of? the' foot, the rearmost cleat extendingacross essentially the entire face of said sole member and the successive cleats gradually diminishing forwardly in length and width, the depth of said cleats gradually decreasing in magnitude from the rearmost cleat to the foremost cleat, the distance between the upper face of said sole member and the apexes of the grooves formed between and by said' cleats gradually decreasing in magnitude' from the rearmost groove to the foremost groove.

HYMAN L. WHITMAN.

References Cited in the file of' this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date D. 125, 133 starner Feb. 25, 1941 5%,183 Owen et. al Sept. 10, 1895 1,253,639 Smith Jan. 15, 1918 1,607,3'75 whipple Nov. 16, 1926 1,607,867 Chase Nov. 23, 1926 1,972,843 Hubbard Sept. 4, 1934 2,259,687 Fisch Oct. 21, 1941 2,307,032 Fisch Jan. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number r Country Date 3314/84 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1884 4261501 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1935 548315 Great Britain Oct; 6, 1942 

